The pair have linked Maptek's Vulcan design and modelling software with Minnovare's Production Optimiser system for underground production drilling. The collaboration aims to streamline the connection between design and as-built, giving clients at underground mines more accurate outcomes.

"Ring design data, including images, can now be exported from Vulcan and easily uploaded directly to Minnovare Core - the Production Optimiser software interface - through scripting provided by Maptek," Minnovare said.

"The Vulcan−Production Optimiser combination helps ensure that drilling follows design ... [and] also reduces the need for re-work, as feedback on accuracy and compliance is available to both the rig operator and the technical engineering team using Vulcan."

Additionally, the Production Optimiser element of the pairing brings together advanced rig alignment hardware with drill data capture software. This can reduce blasthole deviation, as well as average rig set-up times.

The result, the companies explained, is optimum charge patterns and blasts and flow-on productivity benefits such as improved recovery or ore and faster stope cycle time.

"Analysis that Minnovare has conducted of in-hole survey data proves that circumstances prior to drilling account for up to 70% of blasthole deviation," the company said, noting that this was contrary to the prevailing industry perception that in-hole deviation was the primary contributor.

Minnovare developed Production Optimiser, released in June 2018, with the aid of Australian miners Gold Fields and Evolution Mining.